Why I Bought A Husqvarna MZ48 Zero Turn Mower, One Year Later

[@ministerrickcowboydavis1951]

Best mower I ever purchased thanks brother 🙏🏼

[@one-way1927]

mow up the slopes and down in reverse in the areas it skids. Zero truns slide much easier going forward down hill. It's a weird sensation 1st time going backwards down hill but you'll get used to it just go slow. My property has much steeper hills. I used to slide down all the time going forward.Finally I did a little research and came across the suggestion recently. now I'm working on trying to repair the damged skid marked areas because I'm no longer tearing up my yard. A k turn also helps not digging into the grass on turning around. The idea is not to lock up 1 tire while the other is in motion keeping both wheels moving. Most people (at leat I did) try turning around as fast as they can.Making your zero turn actually zero turn will dig into the yard.Also maybe obvious (you're probably not doing this)but not mowing when the grass is wet. I won't touch my hills if it's even slightly wet.

[@rondittmer5802]

Thank you for that tip. I will try it where there are no obstacles.

[@shady0079]

Good advice. you can also run around 11 lb of air in the rear tires for more grip. I have same mower and 11 lb seems to be the sweet spot.

[@Camo-Dan]

Great video, beautiful property and awesome awesome super nice mower! I run a lawn care landscaping business and started with an older but similar model mower. It’s not that you “aren’t the smartest guy” it’s just that these mowers even with the bagger and counter balance are very very lightweight in comparison to other more heavier commercial units. Therefor they do what you are reffering to when they skid or break traction. One thing i do is to lean one side to assist the mower on the lighter end that’s skidding. Mines so bad it will literally skid on dry flat pavement. On grass it’s frustrating but I’ve learned to deal with it. Also the mower only has one gas tank. A lot of fancy commercial mowers use 2. One tank on each side which helps keep weight on each end to = more traction plus they are much much heavier. Some weigh over 1,000 lbs! Ours are probable 400. Maybe if that. Another tip I do to avoid scalping with my 2006 husqvarna ez4824, particularly on one of my clients properties is as I approach this section of a steep ditch I will actually lift the deck while turning. Then resume. It may require a “finish pass over where I turned and lifted it but it surely helps avoid the dreaded scalping. Lastly you can look at different tire treads which may help provide better traction to help with the skidding issue. But mine floats all over the place and I drift sideways while mowing like a maniac but learn to handle it. Hope this helps. Awesome mower you have! 😊

[@damienstark6901]

I’ve had my mz5225 for twelve years I mow 3 acres or a little more of uneven ground out in the country. Tough as they get in the price range

[@hisaddle]

got one of these 3 weeks ago, mowed my 5.5 acre horse property that has no horses. it did great, the pastures had not been cut all summer, were 2 ft tall grass and weeds. Had to make two passes in the deep stuff but the whole place looks like a lawn now. Engine is very powerful, I have the Kawasaki. I have Z254F special edition which has very aggressive tread tires.

[@rondittmer5802]

That is great how your residential machine Z254F with a 54" cutting deck and 24hp engine, took care of your needs so well. I have a similar story with my MZ48. It cuts through serious growth with minimal affect on deck & engine RPMs. I have not yet had to cut months worth of growth, but I did put off cutting my lawn for 3 weeks once, and it handled the extra tall grass exceptionally well, with the same clean-cut results. I did reduce my speed but not to the point of creaping along. My original well maintained 18hp/46" machine would bog and kill the engine under the same condition and speed.

[@dennistv598]

U need a 54-60 commercial grade

[@realone7616]

It might help to get tweels for the rear tires. I have a hilly side and back yard, but I don't have any of those issues. The tweels are much wider and keep me grounded better on hills, plus you don't have to worry about flats or tire pressure.

[@thangknowa3288]

Great mower. A little lawn leveling may help with your scalping issue, until then you could raise your mowing height only in those trouble spots. Keep your blades sharp and balanced, and they will help you out in many ways. Mow safe!

[@KGLawns23]

Nice mower I opted for a bad boy zt elite after test driving both just liked the setup more on the bad boy and better hydros

[@bustermv]

Use your 22-inch walk-behind on those few trouble spots?

[@danringheim]

Never turn downhill always turn uphill , this will minimize scalping. Also using the deck lift peddle is imperative on uneven ground. Last resort is lowering the lock wheel’s a touch. A floating axle will reduce the side slope mowing capabilities.

[@RussellDiBenedetto]

Nice video. I noticed, though, the deck scalping rollers are not all the way down. That may be causing some of your problems.

[@theoldshooter9011]

I bought a Husky 48 and wish I had not. I had an old Gravely and the only reason I didnt buy another one was because the local dealer treats non professional yard care people like crap. You can take your mower in and it will sit there for months before they even look at it. But the Husky drives terrible. There is no "finesse" like the Gravely in turning or just close call driving. It lurches and bucks and digs holes all over the place no matter how slow I go or how careful I try to be. The way you lock it down so it does not move is so ridiculous. Plus, you have to work and make sure you pull the handles 100 percent in so it can move. Never Husky again.

[@rondittmer5802]

Interesting comment. The machine my Husqvarna replaced, I owned for 33 years. It had a manual 4 speed + reverse gear box, a 1988 MTD Ranch King, 18hp with 46" cut. It didn't take long for me to bypass the seat cushion and reverse sensors. My Husq, I quickly got good at working with all the safety features. With my Husq-MZ48, it drives great with no need for finesse except on significant slopes to avoid lawn damage from peeling out trying to regain traction. I experience NO lurching or bucking. Loosing traction (digging holes as you refer to) is something I continue to work at minimizing on my significant slopes. Regarding service. As I have done with my old Ranch King, I perform all my own service and repairs. I find lawn equipment easy to repair and maintain compared to a regular vehicle. Nobody touches my house or my stuff unless absolutely necessary. Like you say, you end up paying a fortune for poor service and poor results. Doing it myself is a lot faster, a lot cheaper, and done a lot better. I just prioritize my time for it. So I sit less in front of the dang TV. Some people work out at a health club. I work out by working around the house of which includes repairs of my house and my belongings including my motorhome, cars & Jeep, my furnace & a/c, water softener, water well and it's treatment of water, kitchen appliances, clothes washing & drying, our bicycles, my wife's sewing machine, my Milwaukee drill, coffee maker, whatever. There are a few things like re-roofing, concrete work, downing large trees, serious stuff like that where I have no choice but to hire a service. My house was built in 1988. I still have the original furnce, a/c, water softener, well, water heater, and water treatment. Our washer and dryer lasted us over 35 years. Our vehicles are old with high miles, but still very reliable. This is because I do everything myself, done right, done affordably. I am not good for the economy. This is why buying the right zero turn mower was so important to me. Time will tell, but I believe I made a very good choice buying an MZ48.

[@RussellDiBenedetto]

Try lowering the rollers on your deck. That may prevent some of the scalping.

[@rondittmer5802]

Hi Russell. What I called "scalping" was terribly incorrect as it implied the mower blades were scalping the grass. My appologies to all the readers here. I should have stated "skidding" which would accurately describe the loss of traction from one or both rear drive tires when driving on slopes.

[@paultaylor6838]

Hi Ron. I have the same machine and have good luck so far. I have been looking for front end weights but unsuccessfully. I can not find your comment about where to find them. Would you mind listing it again for me? Same issues with bagging system and air filter. Poor design. Thanks

[@rondittmer5802]

Hi Paul, Google search "719-04271A" to find the counter-weight being sold on the internet. I just did on 11/30/2023 and found one on eBay being sold for $117 with free shipping. I thought I found one at a good price at $150 with free shipping.

[@markescartin1915]

I don't see what the problem is? You own a premium brand. I can tell you that Kawasaki engine is tried and tested! You might consider the use of a skid steer with a power rake attachment in order to level out those problem areas and then plant something other than sod!

[@diamondlousfireworks]

I cut at 3in where do you have your deck set at . I have a Husqvarna I use at work. It’s a little bit bigger. It has two 5 gallon tanks three blades. Can you adjust the deck on that model .

[@rondittmer5802]

Please understand my improper terminology. In the video, when I say "Scalping", I mean "Losing Traction" via skidding and peeling out. My deck height is set to 3.25". The 3 blades NEVER scalp my lawn. I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

[@michaelleonardis1540]

Hey brother, if you don't like that mower, I'll be glad to buy it off you .

[@rondittmer5802]

Nope! I am surely keeping it. It really is a nice machine for the money. Actually the bagger is too......with the mild "hardware" changes mentioned. I do wish Husq. offered an extended hitch plate so that I could still tow without disturbing the main bagger hardware. This machine is in between consumer and professional grades. I consider it just right for a consumer who wants a more robust machine without getting ridiculous with the price.

[@ammermanlawns]

cub cadet zero turn with stirring wheel are good for hills, but i have a Husqvarna with over 800 look at my videos on it

[@steveshort2157]

Ron, where did you get your counter weight?

[@rondittmer5802]

Check my reply to someone else asking the same question. I include a part number to search for. The weight is used on different brands of machines. A recent search, they were for sale for about $200.

[@damienstark6901]

Use the foot pedal to raise it a bit where you are scalping maybe

[@rondittmer5802]

I used the wrong word. The mowing deck is not scalping the grass, a rear drive tire loses traction causing skidding, or spinning-out. Sorry for the inacurate terminology in the video.

[@bryans8193]

I have the MZ61 and love it. Like you when I first started using it I was ripping up the lawn and then I started using a lot more Y turns and it drastically helped. Thanks for sharing the video!

[@KibuuUchiha]

How many hours on it?

[@rondittmer5802]

The short answer is "I don't know". A number of times, I accidentally left the ignition switch on between cuts. How you may wonder? Because I can only buy gas with 10% ethanol, when done with the mower, I cut-off the flow of fuel and run the engine until it dies. A number of times, I forgot to follow thru in turning off the ignition switch afterwards. So....all I can say is that I cut the grass weekly, seasonally in the Chicago area, starting July 2022. Each cut takes roughly 1.25 hours.

[@apaulf9199]

Husqvarna has a very bad reputation. Their equipment constantly breaks down and needs repairs. Just look up the reviews and also, I have personal experience with their products. If you try to contact them, you will never get to talk to a human. I have a Husqvarna P-ZT5224 it spends more time in the shop than we do mowing with it. I need a good strong commercial 54" or 60" mower for ten plus acres weekly use. Any suggestions are well appreciated.

[@rondittmer5802]

I am cutting 1/2 acre, you are cutting 10 acres or 20x the grass, which translates to 20 years of my use compressed into a single year. Your expectations might be set way too high for the machine you have for the acreage you are cutting. Maybe you should consider a machine that golf courses use. I am just saying.

[@jimmyhill5738]

Bad mistake